This document defines and describes Philippine "Santos", which are religious sculptures and icons that depict Jesus, Mary, and saints. It explains that Santos are typically three-dimensional sculptures carved from wood and sometimes include other materials like ivory or stone. The document discusses foreign artistic influences on Santos from places like China, India, Mexico, and Europe. It also outlines different carving styles and forms that Santos take, such as bas relief, de bulto (sculpted in the round), or de gonce/de gozne (hinged pieces meant to be dressed). The document concludes by listing common materials used and finishing techniques, as well as accessories like halos, crowns, and vestments that are

1. Philippine “Santos”
A Heritage of Saints
Dennis Raymond P. Maturan

2. What Is A“SANTO”?
• The word “santo” is
derived from Spanish
which means saint or
holy.
• In Philippine-hispanic
art, it means an
iconographic
representation of Jesus,
the Virgin and the
Saints for artistic and
devotional purposes.

3. What Is A “Santo”?
• Philippine “santos” are
usually done in the
round which means
they are free standing
three-dimensional
sculptures called “de
bulto” hence the
Filipino word
“rebulto”.

4. What Is A “Santo”?
• Philippine “santos”
may also be Bas Relief
or High Relief
sculptures known as
“relieves” referring to
images which are
carved on a panel,
slightly raised form a
flat background or
highly raised making
them almost three-
dimensional.

5. What Is A “Santo”?
• Philippines “santos”
may also be painted on
wooden panels, glass,
cloth or canvass which
are called cuadros or
printed on paper or
cloth called estampas.

6. Foreign Influences on
Philippine “Santos”
• Chinese –
Buddhist/Kuan Yin
• Indian – Buddhist
• Mexican
• Flemish
• Spanish

7. Carving Forms and Styles
1) Colonial or “Primitive”
Style:
• Folk Art
• Elongated/Abstract/Short
ened
• Non-proportioned
• Bright colors
• Grotesque

8. Carving Forms And Styles
2) De Bulto:
• Free-standing piece
• In the Round
• Three-Dimensional
• Primitive
• Classical
• Baroque

9. Carving Styles and Forms
3) De Gonce or De
Gozne:
• “Hinged”
• Carved clad in shorts
or chemise
• To be garbed in real
clothes
• Mannequin style
• Quita y Pone

10. Carving Styles and Forms
4) De Bastidor:
• Head and hands are
carved in ivory or wood.
• Attached to light
wooden sticks or frame.
• Pyramidally or
conically shaped.
• Petticoat
• Meant to be vested.

11. Carving Styles and Forms
5) Tallada or Detalyado:
• Carved in the round.
• Vestments are carved in
detail.
• In the baroque style if
intricately carved with
exaggerations in movements,
posture and vestments.
• In the classical style if
carved with natural posture
and natural vestments flow.

12. • Wood – baticulin, santol,
molave, kamagong
• Ivory
• Stone, alabaster, marble
• Papier Mache
• Terracotta/Pasta Madera
• Silver and Bronze
• Wax
Materials and Finishing

13. Materials and Finishing
• Natural finish
• Monochromatic
• Stain
• Polychroming with or
without gesso
• Estofado
• Varnished
• Wood finish
• Gilding (gold leafing)

14. “Santo” Accessories
1) Metal Accessories:
• Tres Potencias/Potencia
Aureola
• Aureola/Diadema
• Rostrillo
• Medialuna/Resplandor
• 12/24 Estrellas
• Ramage
• Corona
• Setro/Globo

15. “Santo” Accessories
2) Vestments:
• Verdugado
• Saya
• Tapa-pecho
• Sobresaya
• Manto
• Recamado
• Inuod
• Calado